Physical and Antibacterial Properties of Gold-Poly(ethyl methacrylate) Nanocomposites Prepared by In-Situ Polymerization

Abstract

In this paper, the physical and antimicrobial properties of gold-poly(ethyl methacrylate) nanocomposites (Au-PEMA) are evaluated. Characterization of gold nanoparticles was carried out based on UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The specimens were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). We identified the thermal stability of Au-PEMA nanocomposites and the inhibitory effect of live bacterial attachment of Au-PEMA nanocomposites against S. mutans was also evaluated.